Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Birthday Made Whole

Li Xiaoqing sat there in a daze, her soul seemingly lost, still unable to process everything that had just happened. In this moment, no one offered her comfort; those so-called friends merely looked at her awkwardly. “Xiaoqing, who knew your cousin was so impressive? Why did you tell us he was penniless?”

She shook her head, trying to explain, but Yang Feng glared at her with fury. “You lied to me? You’ve been lying all along? Penniless? How could someone with nothing be so powerful? Even my father had to show him respect! Li Xiaoqing, you’re nothing but a whore!”

He was beside himself with rage, utterly unrestrained, caring only about venting his anger. Yang Feng had hoped to use this occasion to show off, to elevate his own standing, but in the end, it was Jiang Xiaotian who came out ahead. Even his own father had left in anger—how could he not be furious?

At this moment, he could have torn Jiang Xiaotian apart with his bare hands. And who was to blame for all this? Li Xiaoqing, of course. This shameless woman had been feeding him lies about Jiang Xiaotian’s poverty from the very start!

Yang Feng exploded without warning, leaving Li Xiaoqing dumbfounded. She’d already been on the verge of collapse, and now, unable to hold it in any longer, she burst into tears.

But Yang Feng had lost every trace of gentlemanly demeanor. He jabbed his finger toward the door. “Get out! Did you really think you were anything special? You dare lie to me? Let me tell you, Jiang Xiaotian is nothing but trash—just a useless man who climbed his way up by leeching off women!”

Li Xiaoqing stared at him, incredulous.

She never imagined that the always refined Yang Feng could hurl such vicious insults at her, each one more vile than the last.

Today was her birthday, but it had become the worst day of her life.

But whom could she blame?

She wanted to curse, but was it really all Jiang Xiaotian’s fault?

Thinking back, he hadn’t actually done anything wrong. She’d always been the one targeting him, looking down on him, refusing to believe in him.

“Let’s break up.” Li Xiaoqing couldn’t take the abuse any longer. Wiping her tears, she stood up to leave.

Yang Feng waved her off. “Get lost! As if you have the right to break up with me! Today, it’s me, Yang Feng, dumping you—not the other way around! I can get a new girlfriend any time I want. Do you think you’ll ever find another man like me? You and Jiang Xiaotian really are cousins—both so fake, so full of pretense!”

Not a single person tried to intervene; they all watched as if it were a show.

Li Xiaoqing left at last, and Yang Feng, unable to stay, stormed out with his entourage, cursing as he went, hoping to drown his sorrows in drink.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaotian was pondering how to apologize to Linger.

He was a simple, honest man, intent on making friends, and he had indeed forgotten about Linger. Then he’d run into this group of fools, and the night had only become more complicated.

Without further delay, he took the elevator, scanning his wristband to access the floor selection.

The top-floor restaurant was the most prestigious in Platinum, serving only one table per night. Despite this exclusivity, reservations were always full. Even those lucky enough to secure a booking had to be escorted by management, since even a gold wristband couldn’t operate the top-floor button.

Inside the elevator, Jiang Xiaotian straightened his clothes. A few seconds later, the elevator stopped.

The doors opened, and he immediately bent forward. “Sister Linger, I’m sorry! I’m here! Please don’t be angry!”

“Tch.” A disdainful sound echoed from not far away, and Jiang Xiaotian’s tension melted away—Linger wasn’t angry!

He hurried to approach, but when he looked up, he froze.

The place was completely open to the sky, filled with balloons of every kind.

Yellow LED lights spelled out his name.

He was at a loss for words.

In the very center of the terrace stood a small round table for two, a single candle burning atop it, surrounded by several exquisite dishes.

Linger sat there and, glancing his way, broke into a radiant smile.

She was breathtaking when she smiled. After living with her for so long, Jiang Xiaotian often forgot that Linger was a beauty beyond the ordinary.

Tonight, she wore an evening gown and subtle makeup—any man who saw her would be moved.

She looked as if she’d stepped straight out of a painting, immaculate and pure.

When she smiled at him, all of Jiang Xiaotian’s grievances melted away.

But then Linger said something that left him rooted in place, unable to speak for a long time.

“Happy birthday, silly! You’ve never had a birthday before, right? I’m making up for it. It’s your fault for taking so long downstairs—the food’s gotten cold!”

Jiang Xiaotian stared at her, overwhelmed with emotion.

He had always been soft-hearted, and now his eyes brimmed with tears.

Ever since he could remember, he’d never felt cherished. His parents died early, and his relatives all despised him. His uncle finally took him in, but his aunt and cousin detested him all the more.

He had no friends at school; everyone called him an orphan. When he told the teachers, they simply urged him to bear it.

One day, he couldn’t take it anymore and fought back, only to be beaten senseless by the other boy’s parents—no one stood up for him.

Later, he fell for a girl, spent everything he had to woo her, only to be dumped mercilessly for his lack of money.

What right did a boy like that have to celebrate a birthday?

Jiang Xiaotian didn’t even remember his own birthday anymore; he only remembered the date he got paid—when he could finally afford a hot meal.

But today, a girl wished him happy birthday.

He walked over and wiped his tears. “Thank you, Sister Linger...”

“Why are you crying? You’re a grown man! If you were one of our Dragon Clan, you’d be scolded to death! All right, all right—stop crying now!” Linger laughed, not mocking him, but finding him endearing—who would have thought this big guy could show such a side.

Jiang Xiaotian was deeply moved. No one else cared about him, but Linger was always so kind.

Seeing him like this, Linger’s heart softened. She stroked his hair gently. “All right, all right, I know you’ve suffered. But things are different now. Look, everyone treats you better. From now on, you’re a brand new Jiang Xiaotian.”

Linger’s tenderness pierced straight to his soul. He said nothing, but silently swore in his heart: no matter what, he would always protect her.

You see, when he was poor, people despised him and insulted him. Now that he had wealth, Li Xiaoqing still scorned him.

But Linger, no matter his circumstances, always protected him quietly from behind.

Maybe that was the difference between dragons and humans—they were purer, unburdened by the machinations of the world.

“Sister Linger, why are you so good to me?” Jiang Xiaotian sat across from her, his heart full of joy, but also curiosity.

Linger met his hopeful gaze and smacked her lips. “Hey, don’t get the wrong idea! I just think you’re kind and decent—much better than most humans I’ve met. And you’re a little pitiful...”

She rambled on, so unlike her usual reticence.

Even she didn’t know what she was explaining, but she was afraid of being misunderstood, and the more anxious she became, the more reasons she searched for.

Jiang Xiaotian finally couldn’t help but laugh. “I get it. But thank you, Sister Linger! You really are a good dragon!”

Linger scoffed again, then hurried over to push a small cart toward him, atop which sat a modest cake.

“Birthdays need cake—that’s your custom. You cut it! I’ve never had cake before!” she said, discreetly wiping away a bit of drool.

They took turns slicing the cake, but in the end, Jiang Xiaotian barely ate any; Linger devoured it all.

This was her only unprincesslike trait—her insatiable appetite.

But Jiang Xiaotian didn’t mind; if anything, it made him like her even more.

“Oh right, since it’s your birthday, I’ll give you a gift!” Linger thought for a moment, as if making a momentous decision.

Jiang Xiaotian was delighted. “Great! What’s my present?”

Linger leaned in mysteriously. “I’ll take you for a ride in the sky—how about that?”

Jiang Xiaotian blinked, not quite understanding.

Linger giggled and stepped back, retreating to the edge of the rooftop. Lifting her gown, she seemed to offer Jiang Xiaotian a curtsey.

“Don’t look down on me!”

In the next instant, a colossal bolt of lightning crashed down from the heavens.

Linger vanished.

Before Jiang Xiaotian could react, his jaw dropped in shock.

A massive azure silhouette blotted out the moon.

It was a real dragon, gliding through the clouds, slowly descending before his eyes.